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Police Patrol Vehicles
Updated: April 25, 2007
Photograph of police-service vehicles tested by both partnering agencies. Picture courtesy of Michigan State Police.
Resources
- 2007 Model Year Police Vehicle Evaluation
This report presents the full results of the 2007 model year police vehicle evaluation conducted in September 2006 by the Michigan State Police.
Adobe Acrobat File
- Law Enforcement Vehicle Test and Evaluation Program, Vehicle Model Year 2007
This report presents the full results of the 2007 model year police vehicle evaluation conducted in October 2006 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Adobe Acrobat File
- AutoBid
AutoBid is a Windows application designed to help police fleet administrators select the patrol vehicle that is best suited to the needs of their department. The latest version of AutoBid with the 2007 model year vehicle evaluation data from the Michigan State Police testing may be downloaded here.
- Michigan State Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Tests 2006 Patrol Vehicles
- 2006 Model Year Police Vehicle Evaluation
This report presents the full results of the 2006 model year police vehicle evaluation conducted in September 2005 by the Michigan State Police.
Adobe Acrobat File
- Law Enforcement Vehicle Test and Evaluation Program Vehicle Model Year 2006
This report presents the full results of the 2006 model year police vehicle evaluation conducted in September 2005 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Adobe Acrobat File
- Fleet Web Sites:
For information regarding the manufacturers police vehicle fleets please use the links below:
Please see the NLECTC Virtual Library for older reports.
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The purchase of patrol vehicles is one of the largest expenditures that a law enforcement agency faces. For many years, police fleet administrators have had numerous choices to make when choosing a vehicle—overall vehicle size, engine and transmission combinations, and other performance-enhancing options, all of which can affect the overall capabilities of the vehicle. To further complicate the selection process, the environment (e.g., urban, suburban, rural) that the agency operates in can also play a significant role.
Every year since 1981, NIJ, originally through its Technology Assessment Program Information Center (TAPIC)—which has since become the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)—has partnered with the Michigan State Police to conduct this annual evaluation. This year, in an effort to provide the law enforcement community with more information to rely on in making vehicle selections, NLECTC, on behalf of NIJ, has partnered with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to perform its annual vehicle evaluation program. NLECTC then assists in dissemination of the information from these two agencies to law enforcement agencies nationwide. This information is critical to most agencies in their vehicle selection and procurement process.
Partnering Agencies Background Information:
Michigan State Police:
In the mid 1970s, the Michigan State Police (MSP), as part of their annual vehicle procurement process, developed an evaluation program for police patrol vehicles. Manufacturers wishing to be considered for selection had to submit their vehicle for testing, equipped to MSP performance specifications. MSP evaluated factors such as acceleration, top speed, braking, and handling under simulated pursuit conditions. Additionally, the vehicles were evaluated and rated for factors such as ergonomics and ease of equipment installation. |
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department:
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department first implemented its police vehicle testing program in 1974. The two primary goals of the LASD testing are to provide the law enforcement community data necessary to the selection of vehicles, and to offer manufacturers feedback necessary to help them better meet the needs of law enforcement. The LASD protocol used many of the same factors as the MSP testing, such as acceleration, braking, ergonomics, and ease of equipment installation. Additionally, LASD evaluates the vehicles on a "city street" pursuit course to simulate the conditions encountered by officers in a typical urban environment. |
Patrol Vehicle tests for the 2007 model year were conducted by the Michigan State Police from September 16th and 18th. Evaluated were nine police-service vehicles (Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD and 2WD E85, two Ford Police Interceptors with 3.27 and 3.55 axle ratios, Dodge Charger - 3.5L and 5.7L, and Dodge Magnum - 3.5L and 5.7L). Additionally, seven special-service vehicles were tested by the MSP. These include the Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD, Dodge Magnum 3.5L, the Ford F-250 Crew Cab, Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford Expedition and Expedition EL, and Ford Explorer
The Los Angles Sheriff's Department vehicle testing was conducted October 14-16, 2006.
Nine police-service vehicles were evaluated (Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD and 2WD E85, two Ford Police Interceptors with 3.27 and 3.55 axle ratios, Dodge Charger - 3.5L and 5.7L, and Dodge Magnum - 3.5L and 5.7L). In addition, LASD evaluated the Ford Expedition as a special-service vehicle.
To further assist agencies in selecting the appropriate vehicle that meets their needs, the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) has developed a software program named AutoBid. AutoBid assesses the performance data resulting from the MSP tests and determines which vehicles provide the best performance based on the rating factors provided by the user.
Contact:
NLECTC
Alex Sundstrom, Testing Coordinator
Tel: (800) 248-2742
rsundstrom@nlectc.org
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